Do you recall the First and Second Amendment you learned in school? Did you know it was written by our forefathers to protect the people of the United States from government? It is our right. If your memory does not recall, let me help you.

First Amendment: Prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the people to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

Date ratification completed; December 15, 1791.

Second Amendment: Protects the right to keep and bear arms.

Date ratification completed; December 15, 1791.

So, in answer to your questions: No, it was not wrong for the Lodi New-Sentinel to publish a hardworking American citizen’s ad for business. The Lodi News-Sentinel was simply abiding by the First Amendment.

Sadly, an article written in 2009 shows that the overwhelming majority of gun related crimes are committed with guns that have been stolen (from family, friends or other) and traded for drugs. Those guns are passed from criminal to criminal, sold and resold, and may very well be used in hundreds of crimes before they are recovered from someone accused of a crime.

Simply put, the majority of legal gun owners have followed the rules above and are being punished for firearm-related crimes committed with illegal guns. I believe in every American citizen’s right to own and carry a firearm as long as proper paperwork has been filed, background checks have been properly investigated and the applicant has completed a course of training (16 to 24 hours).